Hackensack officials hire full-time chief financial officer

HACKENSACK — In a statement issued on Jan. 17, the city announced the hiring of James A. Mangin as the new full-time Certified Financial Officer.

According to the city, Mangin will start on Feb. 3 — replacing the city's part-time CFO. His annual salary will be $140,000.

Tammy Zucca, the city's part-time CFO, worked three days per week, city spokesman Thom Ammirato said. The city would bill the firm she worked for — Donohue, Gironda & Doria — every month. According to Ammirato, the bills amounted to about $150,000 a year.

Interim City Manager Anthony Rottino addressed the need for a full-time CFO rather than a part-time one.

"There is a tremendous amount of financial work that needs to be done and having a full-time CFO will help the new administration untangle the financial web left by the previous administration," Rottino said. "A part-time CFO for a city with the number of financial transactions that Hackensack has to deal with is simply not adequate."

Deputy Mayor Kathleen Canestrino, who has expressed during various work sessions and meetings, her interest in city finances, said she is looking forward to addressing Hackensack finances and putting the city back on track.

"The new council has inherited a financial morass from the previous administration and we have been working for months to straighten out the city's books," she said. "I'm looking forward to working with Mr. Mangin to put the city on a sound financial footing as soon as possible and develop a rational financial plan for the future."